Uganda officials called on citizens to help create peaceful conditions for the 2026 national elections. General David Muhoozi spoke Thursday at a United Nations event honoring torture survivors. He represented Internal Affairs Minister Kahinda Otafiire at the Kampala gathering. Muhoozi said all people must follow laws to ensure stable voting. He stressed that public cooperation remains essential for election success.
Security forces sometimes mistreat civilians through individual actions rather than government orders. Muhoozi explained that these incidents damage the administration's reputation. He noted that such behavior comes from community members who wear uniforms. The minister emphasized that torture accusations often target the entire government unfairly. Officials want to separate individual misconduct from official policy.
Human rights experts expressed doubts about achieving violence-free elections. Dr. Kabumba Busingye from the Human Rights and Peace Center called peaceful voting unrealistic given Uganda's history. He mentioned that past investigations revealed shocking torture cases between 1962 and 1986. Constitutional protections against torture have failed to prevent abuse effectively. Busingye demanded harsh punishment for those who commit violent acts.
Electoral Commission representative Julius Mucunguzi urged politicians to promote unity rather than division. He said free and fair elections require every citizen's participation. The spokesperson reminded people that voting should not become warfare between competing sides. Media groups and civil society organizations joined the discussion about preventing election violence. Various human rights organizations participated in the hotel meeting focused on torture-free campaigns.
Security forces sometimes mistreat civilians through individual actions rather than government orders. Muhoozi explained that these incidents damage the administration's reputation. He noted that such behavior comes from community members who wear uniforms. The minister emphasized that torture accusations often target the entire government unfairly. Officials want to separate individual misconduct from official policy.
Human rights experts expressed doubts about achieving violence-free elections. Dr. Kabumba Busingye from the Human Rights and Peace Center called peaceful voting unrealistic given Uganda's history. He mentioned that past investigations revealed shocking torture cases between 1962 and 1986. Constitutional protections against torture have failed to prevent abuse effectively. Busingye demanded harsh punishment for those who commit violent acts.
Electoral Commission representative Julius Mucunguzi urged politicians to promote unity rather than division. He said free and fair elections require every citizen's participation. The spokesperson reminded people that voting should not become warfare between competing sides. Media groups and civil society organizations joined the discussion about preventing election violence. Various human rights organizations participated in the hotel meeting focused on torture-free campaigns.
